Start a resume summary with an adjective that describes you professionally (e.g., “dedicated” or “meticulous”) and a phrase that summarizes your role and level of experience (e.g., “Compassionate and innovative reading instructor with 4 years of experience promoting early literacy”).
Then, add 2–3 phrases about your main skills and/or achievements (e.g., “Proficient in advanced LMS features and Science of Reading software” or “Developed engaging lesson plans that improved comprehension and decoding skills for K–3 readers”).
When you’re writing a resume summary, QuillBot’s free paraphrasing tool can help you with effective word choices.
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When listing certifications on your resume, create a dedicated “Certifications” section to make them easy to find. For each certification, include the certification name, the name of the issuing organization, and the date you earned it. If a certification is still in progress, you can include the expected completion date.
It’s best to focus on the certifications most relevant to the role you’re applying for to showcase specialized skills, industry knowledge, and commitment to professional growth. QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you refine your resume, cover letter, or letter of interest.
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When listing your education on your resume, create a specific “Education” section to clearly display your academic background. Include the title of the degree you’ve earned, your chosen field of study, the institution’s name, and your graduation date. If you haven’t graduated yet, you can include the date you expect to graduate.
If you have multiple degrees, list them in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. You can also mention any academic honors, relevant coursework, or extracurricular activities if you think they are relevant to the role you’re applying for. QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you refine your education section to effectively highlight your qualifications. You can also use it to improve aspects of your cover letter and letter of interest.
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Try to aim for 3–6 bullet points per job on your resume. Each bullet point should focus on a specific achievement or responsibility and use action verbs to describe your contributions. Prioritize the most important information for the specific role you’re applying for. If a role was particularly significant or complex, you may use more bullet points. Keeping bullet points concise and results-oriented helps employers quickly grasp your skills and achievements.
QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help rewrite and refine your bullet points so they are clear, and aligned with the job requirements. You can also use this tool to improve parts of your cover letter and letter of interest.
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When showing a promotion on your resume, highlight your new title and the additional responsibilities you took on. List the promotion under the same company, indicating both your old and new titles and the dates you worked in each role. This helps to illustrate your career progression. You can also include key achievements and projects from both roles to emphasize your skills and contributions.
Make sure to highlight how the promotion relates to the new role you’re applying for, demonstrating your ability to advance in a professional setting. QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you refine this and other aspects of your resume, cover letter, and letter of interest.
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A resume can be two pages long, especially if you have significant experience or a wide range of skills and accomplishments you want to mention. If you have five or more years experience, or if you are applying for a role that requires a detailed overview of your expertise, a two-page resume might be a good choice. However, if you’re early in your career, it’s generally better to keep it to one page.
If the job requires highly detailed information about your qualifications, you might want to consider submitting a CV instead, which tends to be longer and provides a more in-depth look at your career. You can also elaborate on your experience in your cover letter or letter of interest.
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A letter of introduction is a brief letter that introduces you to a potential employer, typically sent along with your resume or cover letter. It provides an opportunity to explain your qualifications, express interest in the company, and emphasize your skills for your resume that make you a strong candidate. This letter gives a personal touch to your application and helps you stand out. It’s especially useful if you’re submitting a letter of interest or cover letter for an unadvertised role. QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find the best phrasing to do this.
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A resume summary is better than a resume objective. You can include an objective in a resume summary, though. A resume summary provides employers with an overview of your skills and experience at the top of your resume. Your summary can include a phrase about your short-term career goal, too.
Describing your objective can be useful for your first job or a major career change as long as you also summarize your skills and background.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free paraphrasing tool? It can instantly level up your resume with powerful word choices and concise syntax.
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A resume does not always need an objective (aka a sentence or phrase about your short-term career goal). Resumes used to begin with an objective, but now they begin with a summary.
A resume summary is an overview of your skills and experience. The summary can also include an objective if you’re changing careers, applying for your first job, or need to explain a resume gap.
Whether you include a summary or objective, your resume should be free of errors. QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker instantly finds and fixes typos.
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Don’t submit a cover letter if not required when the job posting or company website explicitly says that you don’t need a cover letter or that you need a resume only. However, you should probably submit a cover letter anytime you’re unsure.
Sometimes a cover letter is necessary even when the job posting doesn’t ask for one, especially in these situations:
- The application portal has a place for you to upload or copy/paste a cover letter.
- You’ll be working in a creative or helping profession (e.g., advertising or physical therapy).
- You have a personal connection with someone who works there.
- You’re making a career change and need to elaborate on your transferable skills.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker for your cover letters and resumes? It’s a quick and easy way to proofread your job application materials.
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